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Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at IMAS

Fan Painting Lunar New Year Festival webCelebrate the Year of the Dragon at the International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) on Saturday, January 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 12th annual Lunar New Year Festival, supported by the IMAS Guild, will feature traditional Chinese, Korean, and Taiwanese crafts, games, and more.

Discover the art of calligraphy, create a dragon puppet, and enjoy local eateries Snow Bite, Ulike Tea, and Han's Katsuya. Paper fan painting will also be available for an additional $3 per participant (limited supply).

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February programs at Bentsen State Park

Bentsen State Park Cardinas Picture1 webThere are fun and informative programs at Bentsen-RGV State Park for all to enjoy. Scheduled programs are free with park admission. Reservations are required for some programs. All programs meet at the tram turnaround at park headquarters unless otherwise specified.

On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, there are Bentsen Bird Walks at 8:30 a.m. Star Stories will be held on Sunday, February 11, at 6 p.m. This event requires a reservation. On Thursday, February 29, at 8:30 a.m. there will be a Wild Wellness program.

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MHM presents special screenings of She Came to The Valley

She came to the Valley Screening 24 webThe Mission Historical Museum gladly presents a special screening of the 1979 western film: She Came to the Valley. The film is based on the novel written by local author, Cleo Dawson.

Who is Cleo Dawson? Cleo Dawson was born in 1902. Her family was one of the first pioneer families who helped transform the frontier town of Mission into an incorporated city. They were the owners of one of the first convenience stores, Caballo Blanco. Her novel is inspired by the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mission, Texas during its pioneer days. It is said to be based on Dawson’s mother’s experiences. The film was shot in South Texas's Rio Grande Valley and Oklahoma. In its first run it broke weekend attendance records at Rio Grande theatres.

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January 17, 2024 - Rina's Ramblings

Wow, it’s been a cold one. Monday really hit hard this week, didn’t it? It might be a little cold, but at least we don’t have to shovel snow, and it doesn’t last very long. Unfortunately, it does mean that we usually stay inside when it’s like this. We don’t tend to venture out – at all.

We had one of our writers trying to cover some Golden Age Olympics events. He showed up to a shuffleboard event on Monday morning, and no one showed up to play. Apparently, no one wanted to play out in the cold.

I don’t blame them though. I would rather be at home, snuggled in a warm blanket watching a movie or something than outside in the cool air. This is when it’s a good time to have an extra puzzle or two on hand to work on.

But…. We have warmer weather to look forward to in the near future. Projections are for another little cold spell on Friday and then getting back to some more normal temperatures so you can get back outside for your golf, shuffleboard, and RC racing.

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Speaking of outdoor activities – and activities in general – we want to know what you are doing out there. What are you doing at your park?

We see the announcements for Happy Hours, Bingo games, dances, and entertainment. We would love to see photos and hear what you are having fun doing at your park, or when you are out and about taking in the sites.

We also have a lot of great entertainment in the Valley – local and visiting. Be sure to check them out and let us know who your favorites are, or who we need to go and see for ourselves.

We have seen Facebook posts of trips to the island, to Progreso, and other areas of the Valley. It looks like y’all are having a lot of fun out there.

If there is something you think we should know about – an event, a special person, or favorite hangout – share it with us. We might want to check out this something special.

As always, you can email us at news@wintertexantimes.com. Email photos, story ideas, and your news.

Caution, Carving can be addictive

unnamed 2 webBeginning in October a dedicated group of Winter Texans and local carvers begin gathering at the Nomad Shrine Club in Pharr. Carvers come together to visit, carve, and rekindle old friendships. Meetings are every Thursday from 8 a.m. till Noon at 1044 Nolana Loop in the Nomad Shrine Club Building from October through March.

The club has a long history in the Valley dating back to 1983. Carving club members come from as far away as New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Texas and even Canada, not to mention the members from right here in the Valley. They meet each week to follow a common passion: woodcarving. Visitors are always welcome. Stop in and check out what’s going on.

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Jammin’ at Quiet Village II

20240117 Quiet Village Jam 1 webQuiet Village’s clubhouse is an exceptional environment for a musical jam. Everyone is greeted by either Doreen Gillespie, activity director, and/or by the jam hosts Linda and Rodney Crouse. Rodney is also the park’s vice president.

The jam that I attended was their country jam on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. There is also a gospel jam on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. These jams run the entire year.

Supporting each musician/performer is the stage band consisting of Rodney Crouse, bass guitar/vocals; Joyce Fratt, guitar/vocals; Dorren Gillespie, keyboard/vocals; Tom Rivers, lead guitar/vocals; and John Thomas, lead guitar/vocals.

The stage band and jammers sang a variety of classic country, gospel, and Christmas music. The jammers included Connie Benedict, Carlene Chebuhar, Linda Crouse, Doris, Gary Hughes, Charlie Hrnicek, Elaine Nelson, Tony Ozark, Deral Rogers, Angele Ryan, and Dave Swanson.

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Ron Moshier packs the house with high energy entertainment

20240109 153105 webIf you have ever been to one of Ron Moshier’s shows, you can physically feel the energy change throughout his selection of music. As he goes through his set, or even requested songs, the energy in the room changes with every song he plays…. And it’s a good energy.

We were out at Mustang Lounge and the energy was high as Moshier played through, not taking a break during his two-hour set. From what I hear, this energy is even felt when he plays at a park. This is probably just one reason why he won the Entertainer of the Year Award for the Valley Star Awards.

Moshier said he enjoys making people smile and laugh on the dance floor. The energy in the crowd is transferable to the way he plays and the friendships he has developed with his fans.

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Betting on The Gambler is a guaranteed good time

IMG 1428 webAlthough he is widely known for his The Gambler Show, Rick McEwen is much more than just the gambler. He sings, strums, cracks jokes, and tell stories about his childhood. He entertains them all. He has fun with what he does, and it shows at all of his performances.

Rick says he enjoys performing for Winter Texans because of their love of traditional music…. and that they love to dance. He likes seeing audience members enjoying his shows by dancing, clapping, smiling from their seats.

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Memories, volunteering, and tours

Hello, it is now past mid-January and my mind keeps going back to Christmas. Maybe it is because I am reminded daily of the wonderful time I had with family and friends. One half of my dining room table is covered with a thousand-piece puzzle of the nativity. And then my bedtime reading is a historical book given to me for Christmas. It is about the revolutionary women of Texas and Mexico. So many of these women organized for equality mainly in education. But also, for the right to vote and for the right to choose who they wanted to marry.

Perhaps it was this book that finally pushed me into volunteering to be a tutor for children who were having problems with reading. Or maybe it was because I had so long admired our older citizens and Winter Texans who volunteered. Truly they make a difference. So yesterday I reported for my first day as a tutor to help children who had reading problems. Surely the ability to read is one of the most important skills that we can learn.

Earlier in the school year I asked my fifth-grade nephew how he was doing in school. His reply was that he made an A+ in science and in Math, but that you could not make an F plus or an F minus, it’s just an F. He was getting an F in reading. Later in the year, those math problems became written problems and his excellent grade in Math began to drop. Fortunately, some wonderful person volunteered to serve as his tutor. Finally, the book, the example set by so many retirees and my nephew’s experience encouraged me to volunteer.

Read more: Memories, volunteering, and tours

Cooler weather makes good for a round of cards

Hearts GAO 03 webRick Light is a competitor.

Whether he’s playing cards online or in person, hitting the pickleball courts on a regular basis, or riding his bike daily, he thrives in and around competition.

“Today is the first day I haven’t ridden my bike,” the St. Paul, Minn. native said during a break from the City of McAllen’s Golden Age Olympics “hearts” competition at Lark Community Center. “I rode it up here last year. I was going to do it today.”

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